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JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE - Rochester Falls Asleep

Air Date/Released Sunday, February 26, 1956
Station/Studio CBS / J&M Productions
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)

Jack Benny adapted his long-running 1930s - 1950s radio show to television in 1950, with the characters and characterizations that made his show a Sunday night favorite for decades. As the TV show progressed thru the 1950s, some of the regular cast retired, e.g., Jack's real-life wife Mary 'Livingstone' Benny, and the show focused more on Jack's "on-air variety show" adventures with guest stars. Regardless, Benny's vain and cheap characterization never changed, and radio cast members Mary, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Bob Crosby, Artie Auerbach, Sheldon Leonard and The Sportsmen Quartet continued to make guest and cameo appearances. Don Wilson, Mel Blanc and Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson were supporting mainstays throughout its run, and Jack's television program remained a quality, comedy classic until it ended in 1965.

Jack depends on Rochester as his best critic, and is angered to return home and find that Rochester fell asleep and missed that evening's broadcast. As Rochester packs for his next day's vacation, Jack mistakenly assumes that his valet is leaving for good. He attempts to make amends by cooking and butlering for Rochester. Joe Besser makes his last appearance as 'Joey,' Jack's TV studio dresser.


Filmed June 10, 1955.

Cast: Jack Benny (Himself), Eddie Anderson (Rochester Van Jones), Mary Benny (Mary Livingstone), Bob Crosby (Himself), Roy Glenn (Roy), Leon Tyler (Western Union boy), Mel Blanc (Polly the parrot, Cowboy voices), Joe Besser (Joey), Andre Baruch, Al Helfer (Commercial announcers), Grace Brown (Woman in commercial), Russ Norris (Man in commercial)

Crew: Ralph Levy (Executive Producer, Director), Hilliard Marks (Producer), Sam Perrin, George Balzer, Al Gordon, Hal Goldman (Writers), Mahlon Merrick (Musical Conductor)
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